Are Liverpool and Everton bigger than Man Utd and Man City?

By Adam Smith

Last Updated: 15/01/17 11:06am

Ahead of Merseyside v Manchester live on Sky Sports 1 from 12.30pm on Sunday, we reveal which football hotbed has enjoyed more success...

Everton kick things off against Manchester City at Goodison Park this weekend, followed by Manchester United v Liverpool at Old Trafford - but are the Merseyside clubs bigger than the Manchester giants?

We have looked at the clubs' league positions over the last 50 years, their total all-time honours, average attendances and current global support to see which pair reign supreme.

LEAGUE POSITION

Manchester United and Liverpool are the most successful clubs in England, having won 20 and 18 league titles, respectively. But Liverpool have never won a Premier League crown and nor have neighbours Everton, who have not won any of their nine league titles since 1986/87.

In contrast, City have contested United's dominance in Manchester over recent years, winning two of their four titles in the last five years. However, City spent six seasons in England's second tier between 1964/65 and 1992/93.

In addition, the Sky Blues were relegated from the Premier League in 1995/96 and started life in League One in 1998/99. Back-to-back promotions saw City return to the Premier League in 2000/01 before dropping back to the second tier, only to return to England's top flight in 2002/03.

The Sky Sports Ultimate League, which ranks clubs annually by their average 50-year league position, suggests Liverpool are England's most successful club in the league with an average position of 3.46 - ahead of Manchester United who have averaged in fifth place, despite winning 13 Premier League titles since 1992/93.

So, in terms of league positions, it's advantage Merseyside again - with Everton averaging an 8.98 finish and Manchester City averaging the lowest of all four clubs with 13.62.

Combined, Team Merseyside have an average league position of 6.22 compared to Team Manchester's 9.31.

TEAM MERSEYSIDE 1-0 TEAM MANCHESTER

HONOURS

In terms of honours won, Manchester United and Liverpool are runaway winners again with 64 and 60, respectively. Although United have won more league titles, Liverpool have won five European Cups compared to their rival's three.

Manchester City are the most recent Manchester or Merseyside club to win a top-flight title after winning the Premier League in 2013/14

Everton beat City for all-time honours with 24 in total, including nine league titles and five FA Cups - compared to City's total of 18, which includes four league titles, five FA Cups and four League Cups. Combined, Team Merseyside can once again claim bragging rights with a slender honours win of 84-82.

Combined clubs' all-time honours

Combined teams

Total honours

League titles

FA Cups

League Cups

CL/ Euro Cups

Others

Team Merseyside

84

27

12

8

5

32

Team Manchester

82

24

17

8

3

30

Clubs' all-time total honours combined

Club

Total honours

League titles

FA Cups

League Cups

CL/ Euro Cup

Others

Man Utd

64

20

12

4

3

25

Liverpool

60

18

7

8

5

22

Arsenal

43

13

12

2

0

16

Chelsea

28

5

7

5

1

10

Tottenham

24

2

8

4

0

10

Everton

24

9

5

0

0

10

Aston Villa

23

7

7

5

1

3

Man City

18

4

5

4

0

5

Newcastle

13

4

6

0

0

3

Nott'm Forest

13

1

2

0

2

8

TEAM MERSEYSIDE 2-0 TEAM MANCHESTER

ATTENDANCE

We have looked at top-flight attendances over the last 50 years and it's good news for Team Manchester, according to worldfootball.net data.

Man Utd have attracted an average crowd of 55,350 since 1967/68

United have attracted an average crowd of 55,350 since 1967/68 with neighbours City on 36,127. In Merseyside, Liverpool have averaged 41,403 over the last half century with Everton packing 33,011 into Goodison Park.

Combined clubs' average top-flight attendance since 1967/68

Combined team

Avg. attendance

Team Manchester

45,738

Team Merseyside

37,207

Top average combined top-flight attendances since 1967/68

Club

Avg. attendance

Man Utd

55,350

Liverpool

41,403

Arsenal

39,445

Newcastle

39,146

Man City

36,127

Sunderland

33,718

Everton

33,012

Leeds Utd

32,886

Chelsea

32,483

That means Team Manchester win the attendance battle to reduce the deficit - with global support being the final contest to decide whether the two areas can be divided...

TEAM MERSEYSIDE 2-1 TEAM MANCHESTER

GLOBAL SUPPORT

With 128.1m followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, Team Manchester have snatched a last-gasp equaliser in our showdown.

United's official social media accounts have 97.4m followers, while City have 30.7m, according to sports index company Brandtix.

Team Merseyside pale in comparison, with Liverpool having a 39.9m-strong following but Everton's modest 4.2m means the Mersey clubs total a combined 44.1m.